Hamilton’s double joy

Hamilton’s double joy

13 August 2014

DESPITE the heavy overnight rain Downpatrick’s meeting went ahead on Sunday with local trainer Brian Hamilton registering a double at the track.

The Ballynoe trainer saddled Big Kern, a former course bumper winner, to win the maiden hurdle in impressive style and finished the day off in style when Farewelltocheyenne romped home in the bumper.

Hamilton’s first winner came in the extended maiden hurdle. Paul Townend took up the steering duties on the six-year-old Big Kern and sat motionless after jumping the last on the 6/4 chance who raced clear for an easy success ahead of Robbie Colgan on the Neil McKnight-trained Better Back Bob.

Ballynoe jockey Declan Lavery was in the saddle to give Hamilton his double when Farewelltocheyenne, a drifter in the market during the day, scored a five and a half lengths success in the bumper, rewarding backers at a tasty 10/1 in the process.

The six-year-old son of Zagreb was prominent throughout and took the lead at the two furlong marker, racing clear under Lavery for an eye-catching success.

“He has the make of a chaser and will probably go to the sales,” said Hamilton in the winner’s enclosure.

The opening race on the card saw Sligo trainer Mark McNiff join forces with 5lb claimer Derek Fox, who steered Idlewind to a 10 lengths success. The son of Papal Bull made every post a winning one and soon raced clear of Davy Russell on That’s A Fact after jumping the second last flight.

After passing the post the winner was dismounted by Fox who felt his mount wobble underneath him but the horse was found to be sound with no cause for concern as he headed back to the winner’s enclosure.

Star of Aragon gave Waterford jockey Thomas Doran a day to remember as he rode his first career winner when getting the better of Noel Meade’s Protaras in the Sunday Hospitality Hurdle.

James Nash’s 9/2 chance was held up for most of the trip but set sail for home after the clearing the second last and went clear up the hill to win by fourteen lengths.

Ten runners lined up for the handicap hurdle where Dublin trainer Jim Dreaper saddled Cerca Trova to win the extended two mile two furlong event under Johnny Burke. Five of the field were declared as non runners due to the changing ground conditions but Dreaper’s runner appeared to appreciate the worsening underfoot conditions better than most and raced resolutely up the hill to have three parts of the length in hand of runner-up Mosman Park (8/1) under David Casey.

Pennys Tune, a winner at the track back in June, registered another Downpatrick success when winning the mares’ handicap hurdle, giving trainer Mark McNiff and jockey Derek Fox a double at the meeting.

Jockey Brian O’Connell felt the wrath of the stewards after winning the extended handicap hurdle on Mickey Cleary’s Couleur De La Loi who raced prominently before battling well to fend off David Casey on Point of Rescue after the final flight.

O’Connell was judged to have hit his mount outside of the rules and was suspended for three days. He was also ordered to attend the RACE school at The Curragh.

• Next meeting: Ladies’ Day, Monday, August 25.